NEC fault-tolerant server features two quad-core Xeon processors

NEC Corp. has launched the latest NEC Express5800/ft series fault-tolerant server featuring up to two quad-core Intel Xeon processors. The latest ft series model, 320Fc-MR, is the first server product designed under the development agreement signed by NEC and Stratus Technologies Inc. in November 2005.

In addition to enhancing its GeminiEngine chipset that NEC designed to ensure lockstep processing in redundant components, 320Fc-MR features up to two quad-core Intel Xeon processor X5355 and a 1,333MHz front-side bus (improved from 1,066MHz in the previous models). The enhancements allow up to five times the processing power of the previous single-core processor models, said NEC.

Supporting Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition, 320Fc-MR is also the first ft series model to support Red Hat Enterprise Linux v.4. This allows a wide range of open-source applications to run on Red Hat Linux in the fault-tolerant server.

Moreover, 320Fc-MR features Active Upgrade to minimise system downtime associated with update activities. The new software product enables the user to install update modules or OS-related security patches without rebooting the system.

NEC's fault-tolerant servers address planned and unplanned downtime through its dual modular architecture, which enables the active and physically replicated modules to process the same instructions simultaneously. The replicated modules include CPU, memory, I/O components, hard disk drives, power supply and cooling fans. During a hardware failure, the replicated module continues normal operation, ensuring transparent fail-over and system integrity. The faulty module is separated automatically, but there is no need to interrupt system operation during replacement.

NEC said that the Express5800/320Fc-MR device is well suited for use by enterprise customers from Web service providers to medium-sized corporations running mission-critical systems and data centres with management servers running around the clock.

Based on NEC's REAL IT PLATFORM vision, the 320Fc-MR has been designed to offer high availability through its hardware redundancy and to deliver enhanced system continuity and cost performance, along with high computing power.

The NEC Express5800/320Fc-MR is now shipping in Japan and North America. The Asia Pacific market launch will follow at a later date, said NEC.